my friend andrea has started blogging at sacredspace. definitely one to follow…
in her latest post she throws down a challenge to new communities to express things in song, which she has found lacking.
she has also dreamed of lobbing grenades at night to blow up all the church buildings!
and wondered if we need a new kind of leader, along with a bundle of other stuff…
thanks for this Jonny, Andrea’s blog a great read
I have a feeling that the way song is managed by the leader, hints at the level of control they need to impose, in that some leaders are uncomfortable with any song, some allow a nice little chant occasionally, and some impose music that’s meaningless. sadly I do think Andrea has a point about the Alt Worship community, often it feels as though we just aren’t allowed to have a good sing
– like a full belly laugh, or a deep sigh, our bodily sounds and songs invite us to connect with each other, and be community.
i guess thats part of the inspiration to be found in services in Iona Abbey, the heartfelt singing is led from the front, but the words are songs written by community folk. and, as Andrea, and Jim Tikner have called for, Iona music includes songs of grief and longing for justice.
anyhow, the other day I found myself praying and longing, even ranting, for a chance to just join in with a full bodies sing, and I can’t get to Iona this yr.
(I remember reading in Rainbow’s, Calvin’s description of human sickness, where we tiptoe around someone’s fragility, and don’t allow spontaneous expression)